No parking remained at Willits City Hall at 8:45 in the morning. The date was Nov. 6, 2018, Election Day, and the polling place had been open for less than two hours. The appointed 1,300 square foot room was bustling. Polling areas representing all six precincts in the Willits area were staffed by volunteers busily checking rosters for the names of eager voters. Volunteers Lenore Flanders and Pat Collins reported approximately 15 citizens had cast their votes with them well before the nine o’clock hour. Their experience wasn’t unusual, as all of the precincts had seen 15 to 20 voters that morning.

A volunteer from 2017 mentioned that she (and others in attendance) were “cheering each time a voter walked through the door” the previous year due to the poor turnout. “This year is a stark contrast, and we’re glad.”

A voter who preferred not to be named had this to say, “[When voting] be curious. Read about the candidates before marking things down.” The present citizenry were from all walks of life. A local firefighter arrived to cast his ballot for Measure J in support of the Willits firehouse. A voting father held his young child’s hand as the boy looked around in wonder.

One of the polling booths was not like the others. An automated device complete with touchscreen, braille number pad, and headphones was made available for voters with visual and auditory needs that keep them from being able to use a standard ballot. The volunteer who was calibrating the machine, explained that a polling booth meant to serve citizens with different needs should be found at any polling place across the country.

When asked what the most difficult part of being an Election Day volunteer is, Dorothy Roediger said, “The hardest part is staying long after the polls close. We have to match each ballot to the rosters before we can go. We can be here past 9 o’clock if the count is off.” Polling volunteers arrived at 6:30 that morning, making Election Day a long haul for the men and women who are dedicated to helping others perform their civic duty. In spite of the time commitment, most volunteers are repeat do-gooders, having monitored the polls for five or more years.

That evening, 3rd District Supervisor hopeful, John Haschak, arranged a lively party at Brickhouse Coffee for his supporters and Willits voters. A three-piece band played upbeat jazz; and a beautiful display of sandwiches, fruit, and hors d’oeuvres enticed the crowd. All seats were filled, and standing room was scarce.

Attendee Joan Wright shared her thoughts, “Midterm elections are about workable ideas; concentrating on something that can happen. We keep talking about water, and topics that keep repeating. It’s time to do something now” Regarding Haschak, she thinks Willits and the 3rd District is ready for some “new blood.”

Another person in attendance, was happy to see so many women on the ballot. She regards Haschak as an “intelligent, ethical human being.” Many people seemed to agree as they embraced and praised the candidate. One gentleman emphatically stated, “We’ve known him since he was this high,” indicating 3-feet, less than half of the candidate’s current height.

When asked about the campaign, Haschak stated, “I feel good about it. We ran a very positive campaign. It was very grassroots. We knocked on over 900 doors. We made 5,000 phone calls with real people. That was all volunteers, up to 12 people phone banking at a time. I’m honored that so many people from such a wide spectrum were involved. It’s a tribute to the 3rd district.”

Even though friends and family continually greeted the candidate, he was able to divide his attention enough to answer questions. “If I win the election, I look forward to getting to work. That means starting with the budget, and deciding how to spend effectively. It’s also talking to leaders and experts in the county in depth.”